The Child Death Overview Panel is responsible for reviewing the deaths of any children normally resident in Southend, Essex and Thurrock local authority areas, whether from natural, unnatural, known or unknown causes, at home, in hospital or in the community.

The purpose of the review is to:

Reduce the number of childhood deaths

Identify matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children

Identify wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths

Undertake a co-ordinated agency response to all unexpected deaths of children

From March 2015 there is a new countywide Child Death Review Rapid Response Service. The services shall be delivered to the population of Greater Essex area, including Southend and Thurrock and will review all unexpected deaths of children up to the age of 18 years. The aims of the Child Death Rapid Response service are to provide a thorough, systematic review of the circumstances of the child’s death while ensuring that the family is adequately supported by identifying the needs of the family and facilitating this support.